Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa
South Africa: Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year was 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
1.21 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 20.1%
World rank
31st
of 194 countries
All-time high
1.48 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2006
All-time low
0.8884 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2019
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa stood at 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.1% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa peaked at 1.48 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.8884 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2019.
That places South Africa 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.1 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 1.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.6% |
| 2003 | 1.38 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 1.44 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 1.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 1.41 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 1.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 0.9924 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 0.9769 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 0.9555 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 0.923 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 0.9056 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 0.8884 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +20.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.863 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.7685 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.8884 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.11 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa?
- Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year in South Africa was 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8884 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Crude death rate: the share of the population that dies each year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from all causes in both sexes, per 100,000 people.